Analysis of fundamental movement patterns in students from seven to nine years old

Abstract

During childhood, a motor development phase involving the acquisition of fundamental motor patterns is observed from approximately two to seven years old. The aim of this study was to investigate the fundamental motor patterns developmental stage (jumping, running, kicking, throwing and receiving) in the 3rd period of kindergarten and 1st and 2nd series junior high school students as well. The data were recorded and later analyzed in accordance to McClenaghan & Gallahue's (1985) protocol. The results showed that the 3rd period group presented the movement patterns components in the elementary stage and the 1st year group was in a transition process between the elementary and mature stages. Finally, the 2nd year group presented the pattern components in the mature stage. The results suggest that the mature stage was achieved only between eight and nine years old contradicting some descriptive models (Gallahue & Ozmun, 1998; Tani et al., 1988).